COLLEGE SOCCER

CONFERENCE SLATE TO OPEN – Big East Conference play begins this week with three games set for Thursday and four slated for Friday. Among the highlights is Friday’s matchup between No. 25/12 Louisville and Notre Dame. The Irish will host the match at 4 p.m. ET on ESPNU. It is a rematch of last year’s Big East Championship semifinals, won by Louisville 2-1. The Irish lead the all-time series 8-3, but the Cardinals have won the last two meetings.

On Sunday, Sept. 16, No. 23/19 Georgetown is at No. 21/- Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights lead the all-time series 12-4-1, but the Hoyas won last year’s meeting 4-1 in Washington, D.C. The teams have split the last four meetings, with three of the games decided by one goal.

WORLD CUP CHAMPS – On Sept. 8, Notre Dame junior Mandy Laddish, Irish freshman Cari Roccaro and Villanova junior Jami Kranich helped the United States capture the 2012 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup title. The 1-0 victory over previously unbeaten and reigning U-20 champion Germany, came in the championship match on Saturday night in Tokyo, Japan. Kranich is the league’s Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, while Laddish was a Preseason All-Big East selection.

THE BIG (EAST) PICTURE – With the start of conference play this week, a look at the league’s preseason poll shows some interesting trends. Providence (5-2-1) currently leads the American Division, but was picked fourth in the preseason poll. Rutgers (7-1-0) currently leads the National Division and also was picked fourth in the preseason poll released in August.

LOUISVILLE SCORING WELL – Louisville junior midfielder Angelika Uremovich scored two goals in the Cardinals’ 3-1 win over Toledo on Sept. 9, to mark the second time this season she has scored twice in a game. Overall, Uremovich leads Louisville with six goals in six games and has 15 goals in her career. Louisville has scored at least two goals in each of its five wins this season and has scored three or more goals in four of the last five games. Overall the Cardinals have scored 16 goals in six games this year and rank third in the Big East in scoring at 2.7 goals per game.

IRISH HANGING TOUGH – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are in the midst of playing five consecutive ranked opponents, and are 1-2-1 so far. Two of the first four matches have come on the road. Freshman goalkeeper Elyse Hight rang up a season-high nine saves in a 1-1 draw at Portland on Sept. 7.

FOUR FOR FRIARS – Providence (5- 2-1) has won four games in a row, with three of the four wins coming at home. The last time that the Friars began the year with five wins in their first eight games was in 2010. The Friars are finding their rhythm and have notched 15 goals thus far to rank fourth in the Big East standings at 1.9 goals per game. Freshman Catherine Zimmerman tops the PC score sheet with 11 points on five goals and
one assist.

R YOU ON BOARD?! – The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-1-0) are off to their best start since 2009, when RU began the year with an 8-1-1 record. Rutgers is 6-0-0 when the match is knotted at the half. The last seven goals have been scored by six different Scarlet Knights.

SYRACUSE – Freshmen Jackie Firenze and Erin Simon each scored their first career goals in Syracuse’s win against Long Island Brooklyn on Sept. 7. They become the fourth and fifth members, respectively, of the Orange to record their first collegiate goals this season. Senior Alyscha Mottershead and sophomore Alexis Koval were named to the 11-member All- Tournament Team at the Black Knight Classic for their performances against LIU and Army.

WE BULL-IEVE – USF went 2-0-0 last week and allowed just one goal while winning the College of Charleston Classic. USF shoots for its third straight win on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. ET, when it hosts league foe Pittsburgh at Corbett Soccer Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

WILDCAT CLAWS – Sophomore Victoria Gersh notched her first two goals of the season to help lead Villanova in a 3-2 come-from behind victory against La Salle on Sept. 9. Gersh tallied one goal off a corner kick. With her two goals, Gersh moved into second place on the team with six points. With her assists vs. La Salle, senior Heidi Sabatura climbed to fourth place all-time with 25 helpers at Villanova and is just four assists shy of becoming the career leader. Additionally, the senior moved into a tie for ninth place all-time with 67 career points. Heidi Sabatura, Taylor Houck and Victoria Gersh were named to the Villanova Classic All-Tournament team.

Senior goalkeeper Kelsey Quinn posted a combined 8 saves in Villanova’s two games vs. William and Mary and La Salle. Quinn begins the 2012 season as the starting goalkeeper while junior Jami Kranich represented the United States in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Danielle Schulmann, Connecticut, Sr., F
Schulmann earned Big East Offensive Player of the Week honors after totaling 11 points, including four goals in a 2-0-0 week for the Huskies. The senior had seven points, including three goals in a 4-1 win over Central Connecticut State on Sept. 9. Schulmann has registered a point in three straight games, and leads the Big East with 20 points. In addition to the Big East Honors, Schulmann was also named player of the week by New England Soccer News and Soccer News Net.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sandra Osborn, St. John’s, Jr., M
Osborn was tabbed Big East Defensive Player of the Week for her help in a 2-0-0 week, that included a shutout. The junior aided the Red Storm in a 2-0 win at Fordham on Sept. 7. She also accounted for the gamewinner on a penalty kick in overtime in a 2-1 win at Columbia on Sept. 9. It was her first career PK attempt.

GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
Christiane Endler, USF, Fr., GK
Endler earned Big East Goalkeeper of the Week honors after she allowed just one goal in a 2-0-0 week for the Bulls. She totaled six saves and an .857 save percentage. In a 2-0 shutout win against Kennesaw State on Sept. 9, Endler made two stops.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Catherine Zimmerman, Providence, Fr., F
Zimmerman was cited as the Big East Rookie of the Week after securing five points, including two goals in a 2-0-0 week for the Friars. The freshman buried the gamewinner on a penalty kick in a 3-2 win over Brown on Sept. 6. Zimmerman also scored in a 2-1 double-overtime win over New Hampshire on Sept. 9.

HONOR ROLL
Olivia Chance, USF, Fr., F/M
Scored both goals in a 2-1 come-from-behind win at the College of Charleston on Sept. 7; helped USF to a 2-0-0 week.

Ellen Conway, St. John’s Fr., GK
Totaled eight saves in a 2-0-0 week; recorded a shutout in a 2-0 win at Fordham on Sept. 7.

Tricia DiPaolo, Rutgers, R-Sr., D
Helped anchor the back line in a 2-0-0 week; assisted on the gamewinning goal against Dartmouth on Sept. 9. It was her first point since Oct. 24, 2010.

Jonelle Filigno, Rutgers, R-Jr., F
Had five points in a 2-0-0 week; scored both goals in a 2-1 victory at Dartmouth on Sept. 9.